Brain and pituitary tumor patients soon will have access to state-of-the-art treatment and care, all thanks to a multimillion-dollar gift by a Houston oil executive and his wife.

Houston Methodist Hospital, recipient of a $10 million commitment from Kenneth R. and Donna Peak, will establish The Kenneth R. Peak Brain & Pituitary Tumor Treatment Center, an advanced treatment facility that will offer personalized neurosurgical and cancer treatment options, as well as give patients access to novel research studies not available elsewhere.

"Brain and pituitary tumors are a devastating set of diseases. We are bringing together specialists from all over the world and designing novel treatment options available to each patient so we can make this journey as smooth as possible and, when possible, eradicate tumors and cancer," said Dr. David S. Baskin, director of the Peak Center and vice chairman of the department of neurosurgery at Houston Methodist Hospital.

"The Peak Center will ... provide extraordinary, compassionate care, and any patient who wishes to be seen will be seen within 24 hours, seven days a week, and can talk directly with a senior physician any time of the day or night. There will be access to all research protocols for treatment available at other major tumor and cancer centers. In addition, there will always be at least three to five novel protocols not available elsewhere for patient participation."

Baskin said The Kenneth R. Peak Brain & Pituitary Tumor Treatment Center will have a number of scientists developing novel technology using nanoscale science and cell biology.... The center also will characterize each tumor in ways not being done anywhere else on a routine basis.

"We consider each patient to be unique, and know that each tumor has different genetic information and biological behaviors. The Peak Center will capitalize on these differences, starting with an initial $4 million commitment to research...," Baskin said.

"Many more advances are anticipated, which will be unique to the center. The center will play a major role in development of new and effective treatments for brain tumors that will be disseminated widely throughout the world," Baskin said.

Kenneth, founder and former chairman and CEO of Contango Oil & Gas Co., and his wife, Donna, made the $10 million commitment as a gesture of generosity and determination after the couple saw the extensive treatment and compassionate care Houston Methodist Hospital provided Kenneth, who was battling brain cancer and died of the disease in April 2013.

"Mr. Peak asked what it would take to provide this kind of service widely and to expand its scope and depth. It was explained that we would need many millions of dollars for such an enterprise, and he generously offered to give $10 million," Baskin said.

Houston Methodist Hospital is providing similar financial support to the new treatment center in addition to the Peaks' substantial financial contribution.

"It was Mr. Peak's wish that Houston and Houston Methodist Hospital would provide treatment for brain cancer that would be second to none. With this generous gift, this is already the case, and much more will be available in the coming months," Baskin said. The Kenneth R. Peak Brain & Pituitary Tumor Treatment Center will be housed in Methodist's outpatient facility and will be integrated with the Methodist Cancer Center.

Plans for construction are being drawn up and will begin soon, with completion being scheduled by next summer.